Friday, June 17, 2011

It's very important to me my children keep up with reading over the summer, even if it's just 15 minutes a day. The hard part is finding new books my oldest is interested in, that will hold his attention.

Just released June 14th, 2011 When Life Gives You O.J, this summer's highly anticipated middle grade chapter book by Erica S. Perl. This is the perfect book to keep your 8-12 year old reading and entertained this summer. When Life Gives You O.J was even selected as Amazons best book for the month of June!

When Life Gives You O.J. is about a girl named Zelly who is miserable because she had to move from New York, where she felt she fit in, to Vermont, where her frizzy hair and crazy jewish family and makes her feel like an outsider. Like most kids, almost-eleven-year-old Zelly Fried desperately wants a dog. Unlike most kids, Zelly has a very unusual grandfather named Ace. So when Zelly begs for a dog, Ace intervenes and Zelly ends up with O.J. instead. Who is definitely not a dog. What’s O.J.? O.J. is a “practice dog” made from an old plastic orange juice jug with a dog’s face drawn on the side. Now Zelly’s not just the new girl or just the weird new girl (tongue sandwich for lunch, anyone?) -- she’s dangerously close to becoming the weird new girl who walks around dragging a dumb old plastic jug, her “practice dog.” Is Ace’s plan so crazy it just might work, or is it just plain – as Ace would say – meshugge?

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I think the topic of this book also can ring alittle true for my son, having made that move from NY to someplace strange and new.

This Critically acclaimed, but not stuffy or boring in the least, book describes Zelly as a "sympathetic, believably flawed character" and goes on to say (spoiler alert!!) that, "In the end, Zelly’s triumph isn’t the dog she eventually gains, but the steps she takes to reach him." And keep your eye out -- the sequel to OJ -- Aces Wild -- is due out September 2012!

Buy It: Purchase on Amazon and where books are sold now

Win It: To celebrate the release, one lucky reader will win a hardcover copy of When Life Gives You O.J., a When Life Gives You O.J. water bottle to help keep hydrated this summer and a When Life Gives You O.J. backpack to throw your book, your water bottle, a bit of sunscreen and a towel into and head to the beach or pool for some sun, fun -- and reading!

Enter to win by telling me who the little reader in your life is that would enjoy this prize pack!

This giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on 7/1/11. The winner will be selected by random draw and will have 48 hours to respond to a notification email before another winner is selected. This giveaway is open to US residents only.Please do not forget your email, if it is not visible in your PUBLIC profile. If I don't have an email, you can not win.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free through above mentioned company or PR agency. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising . Giveaway items are shipped by company or PR agency I hold NO responsibility

My niece would enjoy reading this book. I watched the video - funny! If I did this with my 2 kids I think somebody would have committed me for a psych evaluation. They got their "real" dog and you know who ended up taking care of it. :-)